The Presidency has retracted a list of federal appointments earlier released by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, on Wednesday, admitting to errors in the figures.
Dare had earlier posted on his official X handle that President Bola Tinubu had appointed 71 Northerners and 63 Southerners into key positions.
He, however, acknowledged inaccuracies in the breakdown.
The initial list had been shared in defence of President Tinubu’s commitment to national inclusion and adherence to the principle of federal character principle in his appointments.
In the original post, Dare argued that the President’s track record, both as governor of Lagos State and now as Nigeria’s leader, shows he is a “detribalised” leader who prioritises competence over ethnic or religious considerations.
“People tend to isolate new appointments so far made by the President and examine them with a tribal lens,” he stated. “But it is too early to conclude that appointments are lopsided.
The regional breakdown had also suggested the South-West had received 26 appointments, the South-South 21, and the South-East 16.
Responding to this in a televised interview, the lawmaker representing Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume accused the President of violating the federal character principle in his appointments.
Ndume said he decided to call the president’s attention to his “lopsided appointments” because, as a lawmaker, he has the right to criticize the President, even though they belong to the same party.
Countering the allegation, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, released a list, showing President Tinubu’s appointees from each geopolitical zone.
However, the omission of key appointees, including the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, triggered further debate on social media,
In a follow up message, Dare wrote, “We have noticed a number of errors in the list of appointments tweeted. We are sorry. We will provide an updated list later. Thank you”.
